"Are you all through?"
An affirmative answer came from each one of the others in turn.
"What luck, Owen?" asked the master of ceremonies, turning upon his cousin.
"Nothing doing here," came the response.
"How about you, Bandy-legs?" Max went on.
"All a bluff; nary a show of color," was the way the disappointed one made answer.
"Steve?"
"Nixy, nothing from me. I've searched every particle of the blooming old things, but pearls seem to be as scarce as hens' teeth. Perhaps these ain't the right kind of fresh-water clams, after all."
"Yes, they are," replied Max; "and how is it with you, Toby?" and there seemed to be something like confidence in the way he turned to the last member of the Ranger Boys' Club, for he had not been secretly watching Toby for nothing.
"I found only a r-r-rotten little p-p-pebble," replied Toby.